Sailboats are built for sailing. But even if the boat wants to keep going, you may want to stop. That's where an anchor comes in.
If you are just stopping for lunch, or a quick swim, anchoring can be as simple as connecting some nylon line (rode) and a short piece of chain to a small anchor and tossing it over the side. (Don't forget to tie the rode to the boat). If the boat settles back against the anchor and stops, you're good to go.
When you want to stop and sleep or otherwise leave the boat unattended, then you need to put more thought and care into selecting a good anchorage, placing the hook in the right spot, letting out enough rode (using the proper "scope") and setting the anchor.
Follow this step-by-step guide to help ensure your boat stays put.
